Orbán demands postponement of sanctions against Russia until Trump returns to the Oval office

Hungarian Prime Minister Viktor Orban has told EU leaders that he wants to wait for the inauguration of his ally Donald Trump before making a decision on extending sanctions against Russia.

This was reported by sources at Bloomberg.

The European Union has previously imposed 15 rounds of sanctions against Moscow, which must be renewed every six months. The next renewal is scheduled for late January, just 11 days after Trump is sworn in as president.

Until now, these extensions have been routine decisions. However, unanimous support from all 27 member states is required for the renewal, giving Orban the potential power to veto it. At a recent summit with EU leaders, Orban reportedly stated that he is not ready to extend the sanctions, according to *Bloomberg’s* sources.

The EU is already concerned that Trump, who has suggested he may reduce or halt U.S. support for Ukraine, might pursue a deal with Russian President Vladimir Putin.

The EU has faced challenges in its relations with Orban in the past. He has repeatedly obstructed measures aimed at sanctioning Russia or aiding Ukraine. Orban is a close ally of Trump and supported his election campaign.